President Obama this month nominated three openly gay men for posts as ambassadors to Spain, Denmark, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

On June 14, the president named James Costos to take over as ambassador to Spain and Rufus Gifford to become ambassador to Denmark. On June 10, he named Daniel Baer to serve as ambassador to the 57-nation security group that cooperates to address concerns over such matters as border security, human trafficking, and the illegal distribution of weapons.

Baer was originally appointed to the State Department, serving as deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, working on human rights and labor issues. This is his second appointment from President Obama.

Baer is one of as many as five openly gay ambassadors that Obama is expected to name in coming weeks, sources say.

The list includes HBO executive James Costos on tap to be named perhaps as early as this week. As we noted recently, Costos and his partner, decorator Michael Smith, bundled more than $1 million for the president’s reelection. Costos, already in the State Department’s training program (called “charm school”), is looking good for Madrid.

Susie

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.....Matthew 6:21There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: Ecclesiastes 3:1

The new nominations this month bring to estimated 272 the number of appointments President Obama has made of openly LGBT people to his administration. That’s almost double the estimated 140 appointments of LGBT people by President Clinton during his two terms. President Obama was also the first president to appoint an openly transgender person to his administration.-----------------------------------

A handful of would-be diplomats and their spouses are getting schooled in the finer points of their new jobs. The “curriculum” typically includes training in the responsibilities and authorities of an ambassador, how to run an embassy, the structure of the State Department, how to handle the media and the like — and, we hear, security is increasingly being emphasized.

It’s unclear how large the current class is, but we understand it’s made up of both nominated candidates and those whose announcement is imminent.

One former ambassador says “charm school” is a misnomer for a rigorously educational and informational session. “Trust me, it’s not about china and teacups,” the graduate said. “It’s about the belly of the beast. It’s ‘here’s how it all works.’ ”

Susie

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.....Matthew 6:21There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: Ecclesiastes 3:1